Tube socket structure



S. M. DEL CAMP TUBE SOCKET STRUCTURE Oct. 16, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed June '7, 1947 S. M. DEL CAMP TUBE SOCKET STRUCTURE Oct. 16, 1951 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 7, 1947 SQPiQN M. DEL CAMP,

Oct. 16, 1951 s. M. DEL CAMP TUBE SOCKET STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Filed June 7, 1947 Scwnom: M. DEL CAMP,

4 W m Elm! F W 032 4 FIGB'Z Patented Oct. 16, 1951 TUBE SOCKET STRUCTUREScipione M. Del Camp, Maywood, Ill., assignor to Cinch ManufacturingCorporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application June'7, 1947, Serial No. 753,251

2 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to electron tube sockets and moreparticularly to such sockets having built-in by-pass condensers.

The principal objects of my invention is to provide a socket of thattype which may be quickly and simply connected to the circuit elementswith which it is used.

Another object is to provide a tube socket having built-in by-passcondensers with means by which one terminal of each of said by-passcondensers may be simply and easily connected to a common terminal or toground.

Another object is to provide a tube socket having means by which one ormore terminals or elements may be easily and quickly connected to acommon element or terminal such as to ground. For example, one or moreof the contact terminals may be connected to a common conductor and oneor more by-pass condensers associated with their respective contactterminals may also be connected to such common conductor.

In another 'aspect, it is an object of my invention to provide anelectron tube socket having by-pass condensers associated with one ormore contact receiving prongs and simple and con venient means formaking connection to one terminal of said by-pass condensers.

In still another aspect, it is an object of my invention to provide anelectron tube socket having a simple and effective means for making anexternal connection directly or indirectly through integral by-passcondensers to one or more of the prong-engaging contacts therein.

These and other aims and advantages of the invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art from a consideration of the following moredetailed specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawingswherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one type of electron tube socket embodyingmy invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the socket of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the by-pass condenser elementfor the socket of my invention;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the mounting ring for the socket of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the mounting ring of Fig. 4 on line5-5;

Fig. 6 is a plan view 01' the connector ring for the socket of Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a cross-sectional view of the connector ring of Fig. 6 online 'I----!;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 1 on line 2 8 showing aconnection to a condenser in the contact holding bore of the socket;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 1 on line 9 showing a contactholding bore without any connection to the supporting mount;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 1 on line 10 showing aconnection between the prongengaging contact and the supporting mount;

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 8 on line ll--H;

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 9 on line l2-|2;

Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 10 on line 13-13;

Fig. 14 is a top plan view of a second type of electron tube socketembodying my invention;

Fig. 15 is a bottom plan view of the socket of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view on line l6 of the socket of Fig. 14showing a pron contact in its bore;

Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view on line H of the socket of Fig. 14showing a pron contact with a condenser in a contact bore;

Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view on line l8 of the socket of Fig. 14showing a prong contact with a condenser in a contact bore with anexternal connection;

Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view on line 19 of the socket of Fig. 14showing a, prong contact in an enlarged bore together with theconnecting strip;

Fig. 20 is a side view of the connector element used in the socket ofFig. 14 shown prior to insertion in the socket;

Fig. 21 is a top view of the connector of Fig. 20;

Fig. 22 is a cross-sectional view of the connector on line 22-22 of Fig.21;

Fig. 23 is a top plan view of a third type of socket embodying myinvention;

Fig. 24 is a bottom plan view of the socket of Fig. 23;

Fig. 25 is a side view of the socket of Fig. 23;

Fig. 26 is a cross-sectional view of one prongreceiving socket showingone type of connection;

Fig. 27 is a cross-sectional view of a second prong-receiving socketshowing a second type of connection;

Fig. 28 is a cross-sectional view of a. third prong-receiving socketshowing a third type of connection;

Fig. 29 is a. cross-sectional view of a fourth prong-receiving socketshowing a fourth type of connection;

3 Fig. 30 is a sectional view on line 303ll of Fig. 26;

Fig. 31 is a sectional view on line 3l3l of Fig. 27;

Fig. 32 is a sectional view on line 3232 of Fig. 28; and.

Fig. 33 is a sectional view on line 3333 of Fig. 29.

One type of electron tube socket embodying my invention is shown in thedrawing, Figs. 1 to 13 inclusive. This socket comprises a socket body 1preferably molded of some plastic insulating compound, having, anannular rim 2 near the upper face and a central aperture 3 passingaxially through the body I. The upper face of the body I has radiallydisposed prong-receiving apertures 4 communicating with contact bores 5.In the bores are disposed prongengaging contacts 6 having connectingterminal portions 7 extending-through lower face of the body 1 andpositioning extensions 8 at their upper ends. Slotted recesses 9 extendfrom the rim 2 to the lower face of the body I on the outside peripheralsurface of the body I and are positioned parallel and adjacent to thebores 5.

Certain of the bores 5 may be large in diameter than the others as shownin Figs. 8 and 10. As shown in Fig. 8 a bypass condenser element l maybe inserted in the enlarged bore 5. This element is preferably composedof a tubular insulator H which may be made of a ceramicv material havinga conducting coatin [2 on the inside surface contacting theprong-engaging contact 6 and another conducting coating 13 on theoutside surface.

The prong-engaging contact 6 comprises a resilient split tubular portionfor engaging the inner conducting coating 12 of the condenser element Iwith a terminal portion 1 extending from one end of the tubular portionand converging elements extending from the same end and spaced aroundthe tubular portion for engaging a contact prong at their free ends andfor guiding the contact into the condenser element as well as engagingthe inner coating of the condenser element adjacent the tubular portion.Positioning extensions 8 are disposed at the opposite end of the tubularportion.

A conducting ring member I4 having inwardly extending resilient flanges15 corresponding to the slotted recesses 9 is fitted over the body andclamped to the lower face of the rim 2 by a conducting supporting mountl6 which surrounds the body I at the rim 2 and has flanges l'i seat- Ied in recesses 18 in the upper face of the rim 2, an annular flange Ilengaging the lower face of the rim 2 and opposed outwardly extendingflanges 19 with apertures 20 to receive mounting fasteners.

The resilient flanges 15 press into the adjacent slotted recesses 9. As.shown in Figs. 8 and 11 where the bore 5 is enlarged so that theyintersect, the resilient flange engages and makes an electrical contactwith the outside coating [3 of the condenser element l0. Where the bore5 is not enlarged, then as shown'in Figs. 9 and 12, the resilient flangel5 rests upon a portion of the insulating body I of the socket. As shownin Figs. and 13'where the bore 5 may be enlarged as in Fig. 8 but wherethe condenser 'element I0 is not located in the bore 5, or where theslotted recess 9 cuts into the bore 5, theresilient flange l5 pressesthrough therecess'e and engages contact 6. 1

As a result of the construction shown and described above, the ringmember I4 may act as a connector linking the outside coatings l3 of anyof the condenser elements Ill disposed in enlarged bores 5 asillustrated in Figs. 8 and 11 and any of the contacts 6 in bores 5intersected by recesses 9 as shown in Fig. 10 and may be connected toan' electrical ground or other connection through the mount [6.

Another type of electron tube socket embodying my invention is shown inFigs. 14 to 22 inclusive having corresponding parts numbered the same asthose of Figs. 1 to 13 inclusive. This type of tube socket is shown witha prong-holding member 2| secured in the central aperture 3. As in thepreviously described type, the molded socket body i has an annular rim2, prongreceiving apertures 4, and contact bores 5, containingprong-engaging contacts 6 with terminal portions 1 extending through thelower face and positioning ears 8. In this type where the bores 5 may beenlarged, there may be a slotlike aperture 22 extending from the topface to the bottom of the bore 5 and opening on one side for its wholelength into the bore 5 and aperture 4 being positioned adjacent theperipheral surface of the body I. The side edges of the aperture 22undercut the bore 5.

A contact strip 23 having opposed projections 25 on its edges near oneend 25 which end to gether with the projections 24 are each bent forwardat an angle from th plane of the remainder of the contact. The strip 23is inserted into the slotted aperture 22 with the forward bendinprojections 24 engaging the edges of aperture where they undercut thebore 5, its longer end 26 extending through an aperture 21 in the lowerface of the body I andits shorter end 25 projecting angularly into thebore 5 so as to engage and make electrical contact with whatever may bedisposed in said bore, as for ex-' ample, the outer coating l3 of acondenser element NJ as shown in Figs. 17 and 18 or the prong-en agingcontact 6 as shown in Fig. 19. The longer end '26 may be formed tofollow the outer surface of the body I parallel to the bore 5 with itstip being secured against the lower face of the rim 2 by the conductingsupporting mount it as shown in Figs. 17 and 19. Or as shown in Fig. 18the longer end may be bent to extending outwardly on a radius from theaxis of the body so as to form a connecting terminal to which a wire maybe soldered.

As with the first type of socket, the different constructions shown inFigs. 16, 1'7, 18, and 19 may be used as desired in accordance With therequirements-of the circuit in which the tube socket is used. The mountis will serve as common connector linking through such contact strips 23as are secured thereby any of the outside coatings IE of the condenserelements 59 and prong-engaging contacts 6 as such strips contact.

The second type of socket may use a prongengaging contact 6 having aresilient split tubular portion for engaging the inner conductingcoating of the condenser element with a terminal portion 1 extendingfrom one end of the tubular portion and converging elements extendingfrom the opposite end-of the-tubular portion for engaging a contactprengandhaving positioning extensions 8 atthe outer ends of theconverging elements.

A third type of socket adapted particularly for-miniature electron tubesand embodying my invention is shown in Figs. 23 to 33 inclusive. Partsin the drawing corresponding to similar parts of the other types bearthe same reference numbers. This third type has a socket body I with acontact retaining cap 28 underlying the lower face of the body I andhaving an upwardly extending rim 29 encircling the lower part of thebody I. A tubular rivet member 30 secures the cap 28 to the body Ithrough the central aperture 3 of the body and the central aperture 3|of the cap 28. As in the previously described types, the socket body hasan annular rim 2, prong-receiving apertures 4, contact bores 5containing prong-engaging contacts 6. However, in this third type thecontact bores 5 extend through the lower face of the body I and theprong-engaging contacts 6 have terminal portions I extending through thecap 28. The contact 6 may comprise a pair of integral tubular portionsin axial alignment with the terminal portion I extending from the outerend of the lower tubular portion and with inwardly converging and thenoutwardly diverging contact prong-engaging elements extending from theopposite outer end of the upper tubular member. Integral resilientcontact elements may extend from the inner end of the lower tubularportion with convex portions at their free ends displaced radiallyoutwardly for engaging the inner surface of the condenser element I2. Inthis type, where the bore 5 may be enlarged, there may be a slottedrecess 32 along the side 01 the bore 5 adjacent the periphery of thebody opening into a peripheral notch 33 around the edge of the lowerface of the body I.

A resilient contact strip 34 has a contact portion 35 in the slottedrecess 32 and a terminal portion 36 lapping over the lower peripheraledge of the body between it and the retainer cap 28. As in the othertypes of socket the contact portion 35 normally extends angularly in thebore 5 and will contact the outside coating I3 of a condenser elementIII if placed therein or will contact the prong-engaging contact 6 if nocondenser element is in the bore.

The terminal portion 36 may be secured against the lower face of the rim2 by the conducting supporting mount as shown in Figs. 26 and 29 or itmay be bent away from the peripheral surface of the body I for ease inmaking a separate connection thereto as shown in Fig. 27. As with theother types described above, the different types of construction shownin Figs. 26, 27, 28, and 29 may be used to suit the requirements of theparticular tube and the circuit to be used with the socket, the mount I6serving as a conductor linking through such contact strips 34 as aresecured thereby any of the condensers I0 and prong-engaging contacts 6as such strips contact.

Although I have illustrated preferred embodiments of my invention, I donot wish to be limited thereby because the scope of my invention is bestdefined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a socket structure for use with a device having contact prongs, asocket body of insulating material having a substantially cylindricalprong-receiving bore extending from one face for a substantial distanceinto the socket body, a substantially rectangular slot-like aperturetangentially intersecting said bore and extending from said one face ofthe socket body to the end of said bore and providing an opening intosaid bore along the line of the tangential intersection extending fromsaid one face to the base of the bore and providing opposing groovesadjacent the opening, and a passage from the base of said apertureextending through the opposite face of the socket body, whereby anelongated contact element with a terminal portion at one end, anangularly disposed contact portion at the opposite end, and opposedlateral wing extensions adjacent said contact portion may be insertedinto said aperture with the terminal portion extending through saidpassage, the wing extensions disposed in said grooves, and the contactportion extending at an angle through said opening in said bore.

2. In a socket structure for use with a device having contact prongs, asocket body of insulating material having a substantially cylindricalprong-receiving bore extending from one face for a substantial distanceinto the socket body, a substantially rectangular slot-like aperturetangentially intersecting said bore and extending from said one face ofthe socket body to the base of said bore and providing an opening intosaid bore along the line of the tangential intersection extending fromsaid one face to the base of the bore and providing opposing groovesadjacent the opening, and a passage from the base of said apertureextending through the opposite face of the socket body, and an elongatedcontact element with a terminal portion at one end extending throughsaid passage, a contact portion at the other end extending at an anglethrough said opening into said bore, and opposed lateral wings withtheir outer ends secured in said grooves adjacent the base of theaperture.

SCIPIONE M. DEL CAMP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,696,406 Masley et al Dec. 25,1928 2,291,808 Henning Aug. 4, 1942 2,294,880 Alden Sept. 8, 19422,421,780 Frear June 10, 1947 2,455,300 Franklin Nov. 30, 1948 2,461,658Roup Feb. 15, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 245,950 EnglandJan. 21, 1926 559,562 England Feb. 24, 1944

